New Bern mayoral candidates share their visions

Published: Friday, September 13, 2013 at 08:23 PM.

Having managed several small businesses and servicing the city on many community boards, Bengel said she was concerned for our future.

“But I know that I have what it takes to lead us,” she said. “For the past 30 years I have been in the customer service business and that’s why I know the customer always comes first. As mayor, I will lead just the same. Your concerns will always come first.”

Outlaw said he looked forward to opening up the debate to issues all citizens should know about.

“You know passion, energy, commitment, love of our city, the conflicts in City Hall, all these things are nice,” he said. “Folks, everybody up here running is going to fix that and offer you that.”

But Outlaw said there were other important issues that needed to be discussed, like the rising Powell Bill funds and the city not fixing roads. He wanted to talk about the city’s infrastructure and people in the future using less water and sewer to save energy and how it would affect the revenue stream of the water and sewer fund. The city already takes 7 percent to 10 percent of that money out of the funds to run the city, he said.

“Thirty days of the year we are running off of your water and sewer funds,” Outlaw said. “Folks let’s don’t sit here and tiptoe through the tulips tonight talking about commitment and energy. Let’s talk about the city and how in the next four years we should quit robbing funds we shouldn’t be robbing and (talk about how) we are going to give you back the rate structure you need.”

Tharesa Lee, said she wanted to bring a new perspective to transform New Bern through assertive leadership, collaboration and dialog and purposed change.

New Bern mayoral candidates sounded off Thursday night during a forum at the Flame, pitching their reasons to get votes and providing a glimpse into their visions for the future of the city.

About 250 people packed the Flame to hear from the candidates during the forum sponsored by the Sun Journal and Greater New Bern Chamber of Commerce and moderated by Tom Braaten, director of Coastal Carolina Regional Airport.

Candidates Sabrina Bengel, Denny Bucher, Dana Outlaw, Barbara Lee, Edwin Vargas and Tharesa Lee opened the forum with statements and plans they have for the office of mayor.

Vargas said his platform is based on his slogan: “All wards. All citizens.”

Vargas, who has worked 35 years in federal service and is a 24-year Navy veteran, said he has been an advocate for the city for four years.

“My mission is to see the city of New Bern become fiscally accountable and receive results that advance the city’s interest,” he said. “…We must create jobs and improve the quality of education of New Bern’s children and adults.”

The economic vitality of New Bern’s business community and neighborhoods must also be accelerated and expanded, he said.

“My vision is New Bern strives to be a tourist destination to visitors to seek and keep its reputation as a friendly city,” he said. “However, tourism cannot be the only focus for New Bern to grow … It should be safe neighborhoods and to continue to raise academic standards and expectations and stimulate neighborhoods economic development with all emphasis on businesses that pay a living wage and beyond.”

Bucher said he would bring more than 40 years of business experience from upper management in a Fortune 500 company and starting his own tire and auto business from scratch to the mayor’s office.

He said the experiences taught him how to make it through tough times with hard work, sound financial practices and a commitment to customer service.

“I know servicing as a mayor is not exactly the same as selling tires,” Bucher said. “But the many lessons I’ve learn do carry over: work hard, don’t spend more than you have, and always remember the customer comes first. In local government, you are the customer.”

Bucher said if elected he would set up regular hours in the mayor’s office, “which has been virtually unused in the past,” to have discussions with citizens through an open-door policy.

“I want to change the tone of city government to one that reflects its citizens,” Bucher said. “I want us to be a town where people respect each other’s opinions even when they disagree.”

Barbara Lee said as mayor she would strive for a stronger more empowered city, “with a restored sense of grace and fortified tenacity.”

“I will lead the partnership between the city of New Bern and its residents, one that is built on mutual respect and shared vision of a more prosperous, safer and economically robust New Bern,” Lee said. “I am dedicated to hear the voices of New Bernians. I will hear your stories and I will share your joys and your triumphs.”

But most importantly, Lee said, if elected mayor she would partner with the citizens to find solutions to improve the quality of life for everyone.

Lee said she “was furiously committed” to continuing her political legacy of supporting SMART and to propel New Bern to the heights of social, culture and economic achievements.

“During my tenure as alderman, for 20 years I have, first hand, seen the dynamic nature of all that makes the city wonderful,” she said.

Lee said she was mentored by “three exceptional mayors” when she was aldermen for Ward 5 and was part of the growth and improvements New Bern now realizes.

Bengel, who has been a resident in New Bern for more than 30 years, said the mayoral race is about the future of the city.

“New Bern is one of the best places in the state, for that matter the country,” she said. “…However, we are faced with challenges and opportunities that require leadership. None of the items can taken lightly. We must be focused and efficient and above all else learn to work together to move our city forward.”

Having managed several small businesses and servicing the city on many community boards, Bengel said she was concerned for our future.

“But I know that I have what it takes to lead us,” she said. “For the past 30 years I have been in the customer service business and that’s why I know the customer always comes first. As mayor, I will lead just the same. Your concerns will always come first.”

Outlaw said he looked forward to opening up the debate to issues all citizens should know about.

“You know passion, energy, commitment, love of our city, the conflicts in City Hall, all these things are nice,” he said. “Folks, everybody up here running is going to fix that and offer you that.”

But Outlaw said there were other important issues that needed to be discussed, like the rising Powell Bill funds and the city not fixing roads. He wanted to talk about the city’s infrastructure and people in the future using less water and sewer to save energy and how it would affect the revenue stream of the water and sewer fund. The city already takes 7 percent to 10 percent of that money out of the funds to run the city, he said.

“Thirty days of the year we are running off of your water and sewer funds,” Outlaw said. “Folks let’s don’t sit here and tiptoe through the tulips tonight talking about commitment and energy. Let’s talk about the city and how in the next four years we should quit robbing funds we shouldn’t be robbing and (talk about how) we are going to give you back the rate structure you need.”

Tharesa Lee, said she wanted to bring a new perspective to transform New Bern through assertive leadership, collaboration and dialog and purposed change.

Lee said she would bring the same passion and dedication to the role of mayor that she brought to New Bern by being a city employee for more than 25 years.

“Also, I want a vibrant community with economic and community development needs met, so that it would work for housing; affordable public utilities; and add to infrastructure, both for small businesses incentives or homegrown entrepreneurs; and youth empowerment,” she said.

Lee said she wanted leadership that cares, listens and hears.

When it came to the question period of the forum, some of which were submitted by the audience, the candidates used many of the themes they were running on in their answers: passion, commitment, dialog and collaboration with aldermen and citizens.

Some of the questions involved affordable housing, keeping the charm of New Bern while helping the city grow, how to make the city vital to youths, how they would improve public safety and their vision of New Bern in the next four years.

All of the candidates said there needs to be a focus on being more fiscally responsible, recruiting higher paying industry, promoting quality education, working together and preserving the culture and history of New Bern.

On the question of the mayor’s role in New Bern, Vargas said he was like a conductor and facilitator, an ambassador for the city. Barbara Lee said “she” sets the tones of the Board of Aldermen meetings. Bengel said a mayor needs to visit other cities to keep abreast of changes and collaborate and arbitrate with aldermen. Outlaw said a mayor needs to have his boots on the ground, getting into the communities to face problems. Tharesa Lee said a mayor was an ambassador on a local, state and national level. And Bucher said without good leadership from a mayor a city flounders.

Early voting starts Thursday and runs through Oct. 6. The election is Oct. 8. If a runoff is needed, it will be Nov. 5.

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at eddie.fitzgerald@newbernsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @staffwriter3.